Tae Kwon DON’T mess with her! Once-bullied teen now one of youngest black belts alive

By Daniel Jae Webb via SWNS

A girl bullied from the age of four has fought back against her tormentors - to become one of the youngest Tae Kwon Do black belts in the country.

Shawna Ball, now 17, was badly picked on when she started primary school aged four.

She found herself attacked by other children who pulled her hair and stole her lunch.

Her mom, Karen, signed her up for Tae Kwon Do classes in the hope it would give her the confidence to fend off the bullies.

After a few months, Shawna, of Kingsteignton, Devon, was fighting off the bullies and standing up for herself.

Now she's one of Britain's top martial artists with a trophy cabinet full to the brim.

She has become one of the youngest 3rd Degree black belts in the country after a national tae kwon do grading in October.

She has her sights set on more wins thanks to the commitment and her teachers at the MartialArts4Fun Tae Kwon Do School of Excellence.

She believes her abilities allow her to stay safe in the street and walk through crowds of men who intimate other women.

Shawna said: "I started Tae Kwon Do when I was four years old after being bullied in primary school.

''I signed up in the hope it would give me some confidence.

"It was just the little things like hair pulling or taking my lunch when I first started primary school.

''I started Tae Kwon-Do to give me the confidence to stand up for myself, to say no, I'm not going to allow this.''

She continued: "I've gone through the syllabus at each of my color belt gradings, where it is examined by the vice-chairman of the Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain.

"I achieved grading awards in my last three color belt gradings. I went up to do my first black belt grading in 2013 when I was nine years old.

"It was at the Bristol Academy and there were 500 adults and juniors who took part and I won best in grading after getting a first-degree black belt."

The Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB) do not have a separate syllabus for juniors, meaning Shawna performs at the same level as adults to achieve her belts.

"If you're good enough, you're good enough - regardless of age", her mum Karen, who is also a black belt and signed up at the same time as Shawna, said.

Shawna believes her martial arts skills keep her safe in the street as she radiates confidence when walking alone, which naturally warns off potential perpetrators.

"It's all about confidence - knowing that if something bad was to happen, then I'd be able to stop it from happening or be able to defend myself", she said.

"I think I'm more confident when I'm walking down the street and there is a group of men coming towards me, I will be more confident passing them than other girls will be. I don't feel the need to cross the road and get away from them.

"A lot of young women I don't think would be able to cope in that situation, they would probably try and avoid it and get away by crossing the road. Whereas I'm the sort of person who will keep walking and show the confidence.

"My message to people, especially young women, to look at any local martial arts clubs and get involved. It will help you get the confidence you need and build up skills necessary to get on with your life normally, rather than having to worry."

Shawna took part in displays across Britain, including the National English Demonstration Team for about two years from the age of nine.

They performed together at the world championships, there were about 3,000 in the audience.

"I don't think I would ever have done anything in front of that many people without the confidence Tae Kwon-Do has given me", Shawna said.

The teenager hopes to go to university and complete a sports degree with ambitions of teaching sports in the future.